Please find below:
(1) A letter by American Hellenic Media Project (AHMP) Associate Theodore Karakostas, as published by USA Today;
(2) AHMP's letter as was originally submitted; and
(3) a letter by AHMP objecting to USA Today's replacement of "FYROM" with "Macedonia" in the published version of AHMP's letter.
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(1)
USA Today
Thur., April 29, 1999
FINAL EDITION
Section: NEWS
Page 13A
Greek-Macedonian relations
In his column in USA TODAY, Dusko Doder conjures up a long-discredited myth that Greece had expansionist designs on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (''Tiny Macedonia could be fuse that ignites broader conflict,'' The Forum, April 15).
The dispute that took place earlier this decade between the governments in Athens and Macedonia's capital of Skopje had nothing to do with Greek designs on Macedonia, but rather with reveries by Skopjean nationalists of a ''Greater Macedonia,'' a nation that would include a province of northern Greece with the same name.
In addition to the inclusion in its constitution of language intimating territorial claims on northern Greece, Skopje exacerbated tensions in 1992 by placing on its flag the star of Vergina, an ancient Greek symbol used by Alexander the Great, and by seeking international recognition of its wider misappropriation of Greek history.
Doder fails to mention that the two countries signed an accord in 1995 and have since established close relations as a result of the Macedonian government's decisions to remove the incendiary language from its constitution and to stop using Hellenic symbols.
The danger to Macedonia's territorial integrity never came from Greece, a member of the European Union and the most democratic and stabilizing country in the Balkans, but from secessionist-minded Albanians within Macedonia itself.
Support of Kosovar-Albanian secession only heightens this danger, as Macedonia's substantial Albanian minority may be incited to take up arms for the creation of a ''Greater Albania.''
Theodore G. Karakostas, associate
The American Hellenic
Media Project, New York, N.Y.
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(2)
American Hellenic Media Project
P.O. Box 1150
New York, N.Y. 10028-0008
ahmp@hri.org
www.ahmp.org
Via fax, e-mail & post: (703) 247-3108
April 22, 1999
USA Today
1000 Wilson Blvd. (22nd floor)
Arlington, VA 22229
To the Editor:
In his April 15th column, Dusko Doder conjures up a long-discredited myth, that Greece had expansionist designs on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The dispute that took place earlier this decade between Athens and Skopje had nothing to do with Greek designs on FYROM, but rather with reveries by Skopjean nationalists of a "Greater Macedonia", a nation that would include a province of northern Greece with the same name. In addition to the inclusion of language in its constitution intimating territorial claims on northern Greece, Skopje exacerbated tensions in 1992 by placing the star of Vergina on its flag, an ancient Greek symbol used by Alexander the Great, and by seeking international recognition of its wider misappropriation of Greek history.
Mr. Doder fails to mention that the two countries signed an accord in 1995 and have since established close relations as a result of Skopje's decision to remove the incendiary language from its constitution and to stop using Hellenic symbols. The danger to FYROM's territorial integrity never came from EU-member Greece, the most democratic and stabilizing country in the Balkans, but from secessionist-minded Albanians within FYROM itself. Our support of Kosovar Albanian secession only heightens this danger, as FYROM's substantial Albanian minority may be incited to take up arms for the creation of a Greater Albania.
Sincerely,
Theodore G. Karakostas
Associate
cc: David Mazzarella
Karen Jurgensen
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(3)
American Hellenic Media Project
P.O. Box 1150
New York, N.Y. 10028-0008
ahmp@hri.org
www.ahmp.org
Via fax: (703) 247-3108
May 5, 1999
USA Today
1000 Wilson Blvd. (22nd floor)
Arlington, VA 22229
To the Editor:
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for including our April 22nd submission in your Letters section. There is nevertheless a serious error that must be addressed with regard to your publication of our original letter, namely, your replacement of "FYROM" with the name "Macedonia".
While it is recognized that use of the name "Macedonia" has become prevalent in the press when referring to FYROM, the internationally recognized name continues to be "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". This is the name that is also accepted both by the U.N. and our own government. More importantly, Hellenes continue to dispute the propriety of "the former Yugoslav republic's determination to adopt an ancient Greek name", as was well framed by The Economist when covering the dispute.
This is significant given that the false historical revisionism promoted by Skopje, the artificial creation of a Macedonian ethnic identity from Vardaska Banovina's Bulgarophonic Slavs by Tito after WWII, and this invention's retroactive projection backwards into history (much like calling Christopher Columbus an American) were part and parcel of Tito's dormant expansionist agenda against Macedonia in northern Greece.
Given that our opposition to Skopje's misappropriation of the name "Macedonia" is central to our position, it was improper for USA Today to override this deeply held conviction in a section of the newspaper whose very purpose is to express the views of its readership. We ask that you please take note of this proper usage when referring to FYROM in the future, and further ask that you issue an appropriate correction or retraction with regard to our original submission.
Very truly yours,
P. D. Spyropoulos, Esq.
Executive Director